|
|
Contents
News from the Ecsite-uk office: data needed from science and discovery
centres
Developments in the sector: Potential Trust funds mini-conference
on Education and Public Programming
Resources: Wellcome Library plans to meet science centres' information
needs
Beyond Westminster: top moves at Scottish SDCs
Diary Dates: October 14-18th BIG Fabricators' Week; November
14-16th Ecsite annual conference
News from the Ecsite-uk Office: data needed from science and discovery centres
Three government Departments (OST/DTI, DCMS, and DfES) are now jointly conducting in-depth reviews of 16 centres. So it's time for Ecsite-uk to make a Data Request again, so that we can make the strongest, best-informed case to accompany that report.
It's clear from the attention the Departments are giving this matter that they are taking the sector seriously, though of course we cannot pre-judge the outcome. Our best hope of influencing that in our favour is to provide the fullest possible information.
As last year, the data set collected by Ecsite-uk will be copied to all who contribute to it (with names stripped out to preserve confidentiality). Science and Discovery Centres: please send in those stats!
Any queries to enquiries@ecsite-uk.net
Developments in the sector: Potential Trust funds mini-conference on Education and Public Programming
Thanks to generous funding from the Potential Trust, Ecsite-uk is convening a mini-conference (max 20 participants) on Education and Public Programming at Science Discovery Centres, 20-21st November, in Bromsgrove.
The purpose is to share best practice and establish personal networking between those who have a remit to deliver out-reach programmes (from centres into schools) and/or to run out-of-school activities at their centres (eg science/astronomy/etc clubs).
Further information is at www.sciencecentres.org.uk/miniconference [ archived link - not active ]
Resources: Wellcome Library's plans to meet science centres' information needs
Colin Johnson (Chair of Ecsite-uk) invites your response to the Wellcome Library's plans for a new specialist section, in this month's 'Think Bubble'. The Library would like to expand collections and services to increase their relevance, and value to the science centre community and related audiences. This might include:
Would these plans be useful? Are there other information needs not currently being met?
Comments, ideas, questions: please contact Louise Simon l.simon@wellcome.ac.uk
Wellcome Library catalogue
library.wellcome.ac.uk
Beyond Westminster: top moves at Scottish SDCs
Uncertainty over the future of the Scottish Science Trust threatens Scottish
SDCs' visibility, and was compounded by the prospect of losing Scottish representation
from the Ecsite-uk Committee (through departure of Paul Smith (CEO, Glasgow Science
Centre) and retirement of Alistair Flett (Manager, Satrosphere).
Strong manifestos and serious campaigning in advance of Ecsite-uk's AGM led to
election of: Paul Jennings (CEO, Sensation, Dundee) Stuart Monro (Scientific Director,
Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh).
Scottish representation on the Committee remains strong!
Minutes of Ecsite-uk's AGM are at ecsite-uk.net/about/agmmins2002.html
Diary Dates: October 14-18th BIG Fabricators' Week; November 14-16th Ecsite annual conference
British Interactive Group (BIG) Fabricators Week is at Snibston Discovery
Park, Leicestershire, 14-18th October: "The World's foremost hands-on exhibit
building event for science centres, children's museums and hands on places of
all kinds."
Friday 18th is the Open Day and Exhibit Development Seminar: Creating Successful
Dialogue Exhibits and Activities.
The deadline for bookings, either for the full Fabricators' Week or the Open Day
alone, is 1st October.
Ecsite's 2002 Annual Conference will be 14-16th November, at South
Kensington.
|